This young lady looks almost provocative with her tailored jacket and long, summer legs. However, under that jacket, she was wearing the same jean shorts that all the other young ladies are wearing this time of year. From the front she would seem unremarkable, but from the back it’s a whole different story.

I was more than a little surprised during my last trip to Italy to see espresso “to go”.

The French fell to Starbucks a few years ago and they have never looked back. I have always heard the excuse that Italian coffee culture is so strong that they would never offer coffee “to go” but these new shops are the beginning of the end for that dream.

The flip side of the debate is that coffee is different from espresso, just like linguine is different from spaghetti. I would think the two could coexist.

UPDATE- already in the comments, people are commenting that one should sit and casually enjoy a coffee. However, in Italy, no one sits to have an espresso, they stand at the bar. I think people are confusing the French coffee experience with the reality of Italian coffee culture.

This is a great little cafe down the street from the hotel we stay at in Milan.

They are trying to offer a slice of American coffee culture to Italians but without serving actual American coffee. It’s a fun idea but the tiny espresso cups only last about one city block before it’s empty.

Summer in New York is full of young women in long print dresses. Too often though the dresses are bland, overly basic and usually carrying a cheap looking print. Sometimes they seem like the modern version of the thoughtless housedress.

I think it is so fresh to see a long dress done with a little flair. The fullness of this young lady’s dress doesn’t dwarf her size but does create a beautifully dramatic silhouette when she walks.